Description:
Preface -- 1. Physics is practical -- 1.1. Introduction -- 1.2. Physics in sports -- 1.3. Physics around the house -- 1.4. How does that thing work?2. Physics is beautiful -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. The beauty of electromagnetism -- 2.3. The beauty of relativity theory -- 2.4. The beauty of gravitational theory -- 2.5. Concluding thoughts on beauty.3. Physics is surprising -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. Surprises of special relativity -- 3.3. Surprises of general relativity -- 3.4. Surprises of quantum mechanics.4. Physics is cool -- 4.1. Introduction -- 4.2. Cool stuff.5. Physics is frivolous -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Frivolous physics.6. Physics isn't ... -- 6.1. Introduction -- 6.2. Physics isn't psychics -- 6.3. Physics isn't crazy.Appendices -- A. The constants of electricity and magnetism -- B.A simplified derivation of the speed of light from Maxwell's Equations -- C. Galilean and Lorentz transformations -- D. Gravitational field of a cylinder -- E. Newtonian mechanics -- F. Energy -- G. Friction -- H. Rotational physics.He's back! 'The physicist' returns with an entirely new compilation of questions and answers from his long-lived website where laypeople can ask questions about anything physics related. This book focuses on adjectives (practical, beautiful, surprising, cool, frivolous) instead of nouns like the first two books (atoms, photons, quanta, mechanics, relativity). The answers within 'Physics Is' are responses to people looking for answers to fascinating (and often uninformed) questions. It covers topics such as sports, electromagnetism, gravitational theory, special relativity, superheroes, videogames, and science fiction. These books are designed for laypeople and rely heavily on concepts rather than formalism. That said, they keep the physics correct and don't water down, so expert physicists will find this book and its two companion titles fun reads. They may actually recognize similar questions posed to them by friends and family. As with the first two books, 'Physics Is' ends with a chapter with questions from people who think that 'The physicist' is a psychic and from people who think they have the answers to life, the universe and everything.